Bridgewater bar owner said he couldn't prevent stabbing

The owner of a Bridgewater bar apologized to the town for a violent incident that occurred outside his Broad Street Pub over the weekend, but said there is little he could have done to prevent the stabbing of a man who had just left the bar. Three Brockton men pleaded not guilty in Brockton District Court to stabbing 21-ye...

By Benjamin Paulin

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Benjamin Paulin

Posted Oct. 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 8, 2013 at 8:10 AM

By Benjamin Paulin

Posted Oct. 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 8, 2013 at 8:10 AM

BRIDGEWATER

» Social News

The owner of a Bridgewater bar apologized to the town for a violent incident that occurred outside his Broad Street Pub over the weekend, but said there is little he could have done to prevent the stabbing of a man who had just left the bar.

“These guys were waiting for him by the package store and they got out of the car and supposedly did what they did right there in between the package store and the bagel shop,” said Michael Agresta on Monday.

Agresta made the comments Monday by phone after three Brockton men pleaded not guilty in Brockton District Court to stabbing 21-year-old Jacob Klapman of Abington early Sunday.

Police said the attack appears to be retaliatory and gang-related.

James Chalmers, 22, was ordered held on $150,000 bail; Nicholas Hodo, 44, was held on $125,000 bail; and Jason Hodo, 23, was held on $50,000, each after being charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and battery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. All three are due back in court Nov. 4.

The victim was seen leaving the Broad Street Pub early Sunday before coming back to the bar “covered in blood,” said Agresta.

Klapman was at the bar near the pool tables for most of the night and had a couple of drinks, according to Agresta. Klapman then left the bar and tried to re-enter after 12:30 a.m. and was denied entry by the doorman because it was after last call.

“He was kind of adamant. He never said he was in trouble,” Agresta said. “So the next thing you know everyone was leaving and this guy comes in covered in blood.

“These guys were waiting for him by the package store and they got out of the car and supposedly did what they did right there in between the package store and the bagel shop,” he said.

Bridgewater police Lt. Thomas Schlatz said after interviewing the suspects and the victim it appeared that the stabbing was possibly “retaliation from another incident.”

Schlatz said the bar has had incidents of violence in the past, and police have had to respond various times.

“We do go to the bar a lot,” he said. “Some of the incidences that we go to will be self-initiated. Officers will drive by and see a large crowd exiting or leaving so officers will stand by just to assist so they all exit in peace. But we do get calls for fights and some other calls.”

Agresta was scheduled to meet Monday with Bridgewater town officials to discuss what precautions could be taken in the future.

“We put enough people on. I’m probably overstaffed for the amount of people that we can hold and that’s why we don’t have altercations inside. What happens outside after hours, I can’t control that,” Agresta said.

Page 2 of 2 - One precaution, Agresta said, would be to stop playing hip-hop music at the bar and focus more on techno and club music.

“By changing to more techno and more club music you’re going to get a different crowd. You’re not going to get that, unfortunately, the Brockton crowd. And I hate saying that because I was born and raised in Brockton, but in my generation it was a great place,” he said.

“I’m very, very sorry. It’s a black eye to the town of Bridgewater. We didn’t intend this to happen. I feel that we’ve taken every precaution,” said Agresta.

Klapman was treated and released from South Shore Hospital in Weymouth on Monday according to hospital spokeswoman Sarah Darcy.